111 Now Nahash the Ammonite came up and besieged e Jabesh-gilead e ; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash , "Make a covenant with us and we will serve you." 2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "I will make it with you on this condition, that I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, thus I will make it a reproach on all Israel ." 3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, "Let us alone for seven days , that we may send messengers throughout the territory of Israel . Then, if there is no one to deliver us, we will come out to you." 4 Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and spoke these words in the hearing of the people , and all the people lifted up their voices and wept .
5 Now behold , Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen , and he said , "What is the matter with the people that they weep ?" So they related to him the words of the men of Jabesh . 6 Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words , and he became very angry e . 7 He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces , and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers , saying , " Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel , so shall it be done to his oxen ." Then the dread of the Lord fell on the people , and they came out as one man . 8 He numbered them in Bezek ; and the sons of Israel were 300,000 e e , and the men of Judah 30,000 e . 9 They said to the messengers who had come , "Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead e , 'Tomorrow , by the time the sun is hot , you will have deliverance .' " So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh ; and they were glad . 10 Then the men of Jabesh said , " Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you." 11 The next morning Saul put the people in three companies ; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day . Those who survived were scattered , so that no two of them were left together .
12 Then the people said to Samuel , " Who is he that said , 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring the men , that we may put them to death ." 13 But Saul said , " Not a man shall be put to death this day , for today the Lord has accomplished deliverance in Israel ." 14 Then Samuel said to the people , "Come and let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there ." 15 So all the people went to Gilgal , and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal . There they also offered sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord ; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly .
